US sanctions on former army chief Aziz Ahmed

The country has banned former Bangladesh army chief General (retd) Aziz Ahmed and his family members from entering the United States.

This information was given in a statement published on the website of the US Department of State on Monday (May 20).

According to the statement, the actions of General Aziz Ahmed have undermined the people's faith in the democratic institutions and government institutions of Bangladesh. Aziz Ahmed was involved in several cases of corruption to avoid accountability for his brother's criminal activities in Bangladesh. Aziz worked closely with his brother on military contracts and accepted bribes in exchange for government appointments for his personal gain.

'This action against Aziz Ahmed reaffirms the commitment of the United States to strengthen democratic institutions and the rule of law in Bangladesh. The United States supports Bangladesh's anti-corruption efforts by making public services more transparent and accessible to citizens, improving business and regulatory systems, and increasing capacity to investigate and prosecute money laundering and other economic crimes.'

The statement also said that the State Department has announced the inclusion of the former Bangladesh Army chief under Section 7031 (c) of the Department of State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs Appropriations Act. The move would make Aziz Ahmed and his family members ineligible to enter the United States.